On the evening of Valentine's Day in 2020, 41-year-old Shemethia Tynise Coteat was shot and killed in what police believe was a targeted attack. The incident occurred shortly before 7 p.m. in the parking lot of The Park at Wellington and Wakefield apartment complex on Tyler Circle in Hoover, Alabama. Coteat was ambushed while she was retrieving items from the backseat of her vehicle. An autopsy later revealed she had been shot four times from behind.
Witnesses at the scene reported seeing a dark-colored four-door vehicle speeding away from the apartment complex immediately following the shooting. When Hoover police officers arrived, they found Coteat wounded in the parking lot. Paramedics from the Hoover Fire Department pronounced her dead at the scene at 7:05 p.m. Tragically, her teenage daughter was the one who found her after hearing the gunshots and going outside to investigate.
Investigators with the Hoover Police Department have stated that early indications suggest Coteat was specifically targeted by her killer, though a motive for the slaying has not been publicly released. While detectives have identified a suspect in the case, they have not yet made an arrest, stating that more evidence is needed to formally issue a warrant and ensure the charges hold up in court.
In the wake of her death, family described Shemethia, a mother of four, as a loving and God-fearing woman who worked hard to provide for her family. At the time of her death, she was the business operations manager at an Old Navy store. Authorities and her family have pleaded with the public for any information that could lead to an arrest. A reward of up to $5,000 has been offered by Crime Stoppers for information that tips the scales and helps bring justice for Coteat and her loved ones. The case remains an active and open investigation.
